Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Transformers Stockade Review


Stockade likes Gatorade! No, he doesn't, it just rhymes... Stockade is one of those vehicles in the first TF Movie line which had a similar stunt double, but didn't actually transform or was called by their figure name. Stockade is based on the vehicle used by Sector 7...

Stockade's vehicle mode is a Cadillac Escalade SUV, of course made by GM. It's not an exact replication of and Escalade, there are some minor changes like the grill. It's not a single piece, but rather it's split into three sections, also some additions and lack of other detail. Colors featured are black, silver, red, and translucent dark blue. On the grill is also a Decepticon emblem, and S7 and symbol on the driver and passenger doors. It's really a great vehicle mode overall. There is a luggage bar on the top that's just grey, nothing painted, it really sticks out though...

Nothing too hard about his transformation. It's really easy, but effective...

Now, this is where he shines. Stockade is a short, stocky robot, and has a gorilla like appearance to him. Not Optimus Primal gorilla, but his physique. He features long arms that almost reach the ground, he also has a wide chest. You can pose his with his fist impaled to the ground and his legs slightly bent for the gorilla look. What you really have to appreciate about this mold is the detail. IT'S EPIC! I can't quite explain all the detail, there is so many. There are panels, internal wiring, something the looks like disc brakes, and some vents. The head is cool with some details too. He has a Prime-like face mask, but he features bar-like details around his head. He doesn't feature a black pipe lighting in the back of his head, but rather the top of his head is like a separate piece and the dark blue light piping wraps all the way around his head. The way his top half has a ridge makes his look evil...

Now that he's unfolded into robot mode, you notice some new colors, and more of the same colors. Of course he still has the main characters of black, red, silver, and translucent blue. There is also an addition of a dark grey, "AllSpark" blue and more of the plain light grey plastic. It doesn't take away from the appearance, but I think anything that's bright or light takes away from the Decepticoness of the character.

Articulation is good, just enough to get some good poses. He features a limited ball joint head because of his bulk around the head. His shoulders are balljointed, double hinged elbows, and two hinge joints on his knuckles. His waist rotates 360 degrees, his hips are balljoints, hinge knees, and hinged ankles. It's a pretty decent set of POA, expecially the fingers.

Like most figures from the TF Movie line, it features an Automorph or now called Mech Alive gimmick. Stockade's gimmick is his luggage bars that are molded plain light grey. When you push them up, he'll gain additional arm length when his "internal" forearms slide out, giving him a wingspan of about 12 inches, more or less. He's known for punching the crap out of Autobots, or Autobots trying to punch the crap out of him. While not necessarily an Automorph gimmick as it doesn't help with transforming Stockade, it can be considered a Mech Alive Gimmick...
Overall this figure is great, the mold is great too. Looking at him now, he has a Nemesis Prime fell to him, and since I'm lacking a Nemesis Prime he looks to be a great substitute. They are releasing a Gears in this mold, but I like the original color scheme better, but you gotta pick up the mold, even if it's not in Stockade's colors. I'd have to give it a 10 out of 10. It's simply one of the best molds, and coolest character designs created.

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